Poverty in ethnic-inhabited areas decrease sharply

The poverty rate in ethnic-inhabited areas decreased from 47 percent in 2006 to 28.8 percent in 2010.

The information was given at a workshop to review the implementation of Programme 135 – phase 2, which was designed to help the poor in disadvantaged areas.

After five years of implementation of Program 135 – phase 2 (2006 – 2010), the state provided VND14,000 billion for the component projects and VND13,000 billion have been disbursed.

Currently, more than 80 percent of communes have medical stations, people’s intellectual standards are raised, and political and social security as well as economic development remain sound.

However, according to a report by the Committee for Ethnic Minorities, there are still weaknesses in the programme’s implementation, particularly the use of capital.

Minister, Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities, Giang Seo Phu, said the starting point of ethnic regions was low so the investment could not make stronger changes in these localities. The 2006 – 2010 period expected VND29,000 billion invested-capital but so far only VND14,000 billion has been invested.

Programme 135 - phase 3 will continue focusing on policies of production land, houses and water for poor people; investing in infrastructure; improving healthcare service; and encouraging businesses to train and use local human resources.

Film contest on water resources

A national filmmaking and film-scripting contest on water resources has been launched by the Department of Water Resources Management under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The contest, the first of its kind to date, is part of a Belgium-funded project to improve Vietnam’s capacity to assess and manage water resources in the 2009-2012 period.

Participants are permitted to send entries for six categories: documentaries, reports, short films, documentary scripts, report scripts, and short movie scripts.

The entries must focus on issues such as water exhaustion, competition for water usage, and Vietnam’s efforts in managing water resources.

The deadline for entry submission is February 28, 2011.

Binh Duong workers get free travel home

Over 700 workers from industrial zones in southern Binh Duong Province will be offered travel fare to return home on Tet, said Nguyen Van Nam, chairman of the provincial Labour Union.

Beneficiaries are those who hail from flood-hit provinces in the central region, mostly Ha Tinh and Nghe An Provinces.

The Labour Union will hire the Binh Duong Province's Trade Union Tourist-Services Co., Ltd to take all workers home. Each ticket is valued at VND400($20) to VND745($37).

Six fishermen rescued off central coast

Provincial border guards rescued six fishermen stranded 50 nautical miles offshore from the central Quang Tri Province on Tuesday.

Their fishing vessel broke down after being hit by strong waves.

After receiving the SOS distress signal, the guard rescued the fishermen and took them back to Con Co Island.

Premature baby survives in Hue

A Hue Central Hospital representative confirmed yesterday that another severely premature baby weighing just 700 grammes was in stable condition after a week of intensive care. Last November the hospital saved a 35-week baby of a woman who suffered a fatal heart attack.

The 25-week baby was born prematurely by a 25-year-old woman living in Quang Trach District, Quang Binh Province, who was hospitalised on December 27 for lupus (SLE – systemic lupus erythematosus), pleural effusion (excess fluid in the lungs) and heart treatment.

She was delivered suffocating and severely anemic. Doctors said the baby was still attached to a respirator and was receiving intense medical care.

Another hospital, Bach Mai General, had previously saved a 700 gramme baby born prematurely by a 28-year-old mother who died of septicemia.

Phu Quy islanders escape isolation

The first three ships carrying passengers and goods have left for Phu Quy Island, which was isolated for 10 days due to rough seas.

More strong winds are forecast to hit the region from now to Tet (Lunar New Year), which will cause heavy traffic between the island and mainland, said Nguyen Anh Huu, director of the central Binh Thuan Province's Port Affairs.

The isolation caused the island to suffer shortages of food, petrol and other neccessities.

VNN/VOV/VNS